Insulating container



Oct. 4, 1960 N. L. RossMAN INSULATING CONTAINER Filed July 19. 1957 United States PatentO The present invention relates to an improved insulating container, and more particularly pertains to a container having a plurality of discrete and continuous insulating passageways interposed between the container wall surfaces.

The prior art is replete with various insulating container constructions employing various Wall constructions in an attempt to provide insulation Vfor an enclosed storage space. Many of such box constructions employ dea-d air spaces as the insulating medium, preventing the entrance or loss of heat relative to the contained material. Since the latter air space or spaces is noncirculating, the eventual seepage of heat soon results in the stratification of cold and hot air in the dead air space in accordance with well-known physical laws. The. latter stratification, obviously, materially reduces the eiciency of the resulting container, since portions of the container storage space will be surrounded `by air of varying temperatures, and uneven protection will thus vbe afforded to the item contained. It is Well known that Warm air is of less density than cold air and will thus rise over the cooler air resulting in stratification.

the-container storage space and 1s closed off from contact with adjacent ute passageways.

In order to assure a complete unobstructed passageway, each box ap and adjacent side portion to which the flap is hingedly connected has a V-shaped portion cut therefrom so as to form a 90 degree miter joint when the box flap is in the normal, closed position. As a.resuit of these miter joints which are arranged at each box flap-side hinge, the discrete utes or passageways defined by the corrugated material which `tintes are interposed between two opposed paper walls of the container are continuous and unobstructed. The latter passageways are arranged transverselyto the miter joints. The opposed flap distal end limits are cut so as to snugly'butt in the normal closed position enabling the air spaces to be `'continuous across the aps. Each corrugation passageway is thus seen to traverse two container sides and four container flaps.

. The container so constructed is thus seen to comprise inner and outer wall surfaces having interposed therebetween a plurality of continuous and discrete passageways which serve as air-confining passageways. As a result, any heat transmitted or conducted through either lpaper wall surface into the air confined in a discrete flute, or box passageway, will result of a turbulence occasioned by the admixture of the resulting heated air with the cooler air, or conversely, by cool air with Warm air i housed within the passageway. This latter turbulence Y thereby resulting in high efiiciency of the insulating air Those insulated containers which do disclose a conn itis'an object lof thisinvention, therefore, toprovide aninsulating container or box constructiony employing Ya ,pluraliiy 0f discretey continuous air spacesy disposed aboutthe entire periphery of an-enveloped storagespace. It is another object of this invention tojyprovide* a structural feature for insulating containers composedY of corrugated material which may be-adapted toa number of container types as will hereinafter be explainedfin greater detail. p i ,-7 af further object of this invention to provide'zan insulating box construction which may be` readily fabricated in an economicalmanner 4from ordinary materials of construction. y f j :I 5 'The above and otherobjects of this invention-will become more apparent from the following detailed description,`-when read in the light of. the accompanyingdrawingsan'd appended claims. n l i I f '4 In voneembodiment of the provided insulating container., a box or container defining a storagefspace is provided which is fabricated of corrugated-cardboardfa wellknown material ofcomposition in the packaging industry. The box' ciorrugations are arranged so that "the discrete flutes or discrete passagewaysformed therebymay ,each be continuous andencompass acomplete,peripheral'porfftion of the box.` vfBy.continuous,it isV meant'that asingle barrier. ,Because of this latter movement in the course of admixture, stratification of the insulating air barrier into hot and cold portions is obviated.

A heat-reflecting surface such as aluminum foil or similar type foil may bev applied to the inner surface of either jor both of thezypaper walls of the provided box to assist the insulatingproperties thereof. If the insulating container is to be used primarily for storing cold substances, the heat-reecting surface is applied to the ex- :terior-facing surface of the innermost wall of the box which is disposed closer to the storage space. As a result, heat attempting to penetrate the box from the exterior thereof is reflected outwardly from the latter reecting'surface. If the provided box is to be used with wann substances for the purpose of preventing the dissipation of heat, the reliecting surface is applied to the interior-facing surface of the outermost container Wall A'disposed further fromthe storage area. Consequently, heatatternpting to radiate from the` box interior -impinges yagainst the reiiecting surface and. is preventedv from-escaping from' the box interior, being reliected back into the storage space. j U

' If it is desired to use an insulating box adaptable for use with either hot or cold substances, a foil surface is applied vto the inner surface of each box wall.

In modified insulating box constructions, double thicknesses of the corrugated cardboard material may `be emlployed utilizing the previously described miter joints or y recesses at the iiap-side hinge connections. As a result of these latter hinge joints, continuous air .passageways are assured in both the inner and outer thicknesses of the corrugated material. The actual hinge in such box constructions comprises the outermost box wall surface which remainsV uncut and thus serves to hold the iiapA and side portions together. j Y Y I Utilizingthe doublevthickness construction itis generally unnecessaryy to employ av lieat-reiiecting surface.

with cold substances, the heat-reflecting foil surface is secured to the exterior-facing surface of the central wall of the container side or ap portion. If the provided double thickness box is'to be utilized with warm sub: stances, the heat-reflecting surface is appliedk tothe interior-facing surface of the central wall of the container side or ap portion, as will hereinafter be'explained in greater detail. V-

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should now be made to the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the illustrated box construction;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the box illustratedtiizi Fig. 1 taken on lineV 2 2 thereof and illustrated on a scaleV enlarged thereover;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating in detail a miter joint utilized in the provided container constructions; v

Fig. 4 is afragmentary sectionalA view of a sidefof a container adaptedY to be used with cold substances; v

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a side of a container which may be utilized withJeither cold or warm substances; f

Fig. 6 is a perspective view similar to Figpl of a double thickness insulating container;

' Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7--7 of Fig. 6 and illustrated on a scale enlarged thereover;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a side-of 'a double thickness container to be utilized withfwarm substances;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of a side of a double thickness container to be utilized with cold substances;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of a double thickness insulating container construction which is adapted to be used with either cold or hot substances to be contained therein; and f i Fig. l1 is a fragmentary-sectional View' of a Single thickness insulating box employing nofoil.

In Fig.Y 2 and the other sectional lviews of the drawings, the letter B designates the container bottom.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. l, a box con- The oorrugations of the latter material define the passageways 12.

A heat-reflecting surface composed `of aluminum foil or the like `may be utilized in conjunction with passageways 12 and the air contained therein for insulating purposes. The heat-reflecting surface 22 may be secured to the interior-facing surface-ofthe outermost wall 18a as illustrated in Figs.` 1 and 2. Such a side or flap construction is primarily intended foruse with warm substances, theheat of which is to be retained. The reflecting surface 22 reflects the radiating heat from the con= tainer interior. .back into the container, .thereby preventing the loss thereof. TheY insulating box 10 may not employ A' foil in its flaps or sides, `as illustrated by box section 16a by reflecting the heat back into the container.

. sult of the miter joints, one of which is Vclearly illustrated in Fig. 3, prevent the stratification of the air contained in each ofthe passageways 12 'thereby rendering most efficient the insulating properties ofthe air disposed between the opposed Wall surfaces 18a and 18h. Since each passageway v12 is continuous, the air contained within each passageway will tend to be uniform in temperature upon the gain or loss of heat in the container illustratedin Fig. 1.

vStratification off hot and cold air portions within any one VpassagewaylZ is impossible, since if a temperature differential exists movement of the warmer air toward the colder will take place, resulting in intimate admixture struction 10 is illustrated which employs corrugated material well known in the packaging art. It will be noted that each o-f the passageways 12 defined bythe corr-ugated material 14 runs continuously about anV entire peripheral portion of the illustrated box and forms a discrete integral passageway when flaps 16 are in the closed position. In the latter position, the ap distal end limits are in mutually abutting relationship; kIt will also be apparent from Fig. l that one opposed pair of a'ps'must be arranged lower on their supporting'sides than theremaining pair. In Fig. 1, the ap in the normal closed position' is seen to be disposed lower "than those flapsk disposed transversely thereto. Thus, crushing offflap portions is obviated when all are in thejnormally-closed position. Y

Since it is desired in the provided construction that the passageways 12 formed by the corrugations 14V be continuous in nature, hinge joints between the aps 16 and sides 4 18` of the illustrated box construction 10 have a V-shaped portion cut from the inner surfaceV thereof so as to enable the flap-wall joints to define a right angle as illustrated in Fig. 3. These latter miter joints eliminate any crushing and resulting obstruction ofthe individual passageways 12 disposed about the box periphery upon*l closing the box. The miter joints illustratedl are of all air Within a particular passageway. Thus, the enclosed material in the insulated box is surrounded by air segments of uniform temperatures. Such uniform' insulation would not be afforded if the discrete passageways 12 did not possess the miter joints most clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. In the absence of such joints the removed cardboard material,` ifpresent, would be crushed obstructing each of the passageways 12. Consequently, air would not be able to circulate about a complete peripheral portion of the box 10. The effectiveness of the provided box 10 is thus seen to be owing to the optional rellecting surface 22 as well as the miter joint in the connection between the box aps 16 and the box sides 1S.

. .Itis apparent that if a container such as container 10 illustrated'inFig. 1 is to be utilized with cold substances the heat-reflecting surfaces would be rearranged so as to be disposed on the-exterior-facing surface lof the innermost wall surface 18b in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4.

` rIn-such location, the reecting surface opposes the adintended to be' used in every box`construction made in accordance with the teaching of thisrinvention.r .A

` Such hinge jointsy assure freedom of airmovement within each of the'passageways 12 and insure theabsence of lair-flow obstructions. It will also be noted froml `Figs.1 and Zthat each side 18 and flap 16 of the'providedcon- L tainer Ulis delined opposed wallrfsu'rfaces' 18q'and 181g having the corrugated material `14"disposed therein.

mission of exterior Vheat into the container interior by reecting the same outwardly.

InFig. 5 aheat-reecting layer 22 is illustrated secured to the inner surfaceof both wall surfaces 18a and 18h. Such a-construc'tion is thus adaptable for use with either cold or hot substances.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified insulating boxl construction 24 which has flaps 26 and sides 28 of doublethickness. Obviously, the insulating properties afforded by a `double* layer of the enclosed air passageways are superior tok a box such as that illustrated in Figgl having a single thickness. It will be noted from Fig. 6' that the flap-side hinge connection or joint is miteredsmilarly to the box construction of Fig. 1 so that, when the boxr24 is in the normal closed position, corrugated `material 36, more clearly seen in the sectional view of .'Fig. '7,' will form a pluralityof continuous passageways-32 which pass about an entire peripheral portion of the box. The double layer of passageways 32 are; unobstructed and insure temperature uniformity of thejair'within any onepassag'eway 32.

A Figs. `8 through 10 illustrate sections of container sides employing double Vthicknesses`wliich may utilize a heatreecting surface to assist in the insulating capacity afforded by the box with which they are employed. (The same construction of the sides is, of course, utilized in the flap portions.) Although box 24 employs no foil surface, such foil may be utilized in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8 when exceptional insulation is to be aiforded a contained, warm material. Under such circumstances, the foil layer 22 is applied to the interior-facing surface of the center Wall C, as illustrated in Fig. 8. Utilizing such construction, two layers of discrete, continuous air passages surround the enclosed material in addition to the optional heat-reliecting surfaces.

In Fig. 9 a heat-reflecting surface 22 is disposed on the exterior-facing surface of the center wall C of the illustrated box section. It is apparent, therefore, that heat from the exterior of the box will be reiiected outwardly by the latter reecting surface.

In Fig. 10, a double thickness container construction is illustrated in which a heat-reflecting surface 22 is applied to both surfaces of the center wall C of the illustrated box section. Such a walled construction will afford excellent insulating protection for either a hot or cold substance.

A number of box constructions have been provided which utilize discrete passageways containing insulating air which is allowed to circulate about a complete peripheral portion of the provided box. As a result, the insulating air may move and mix when necessary upon Y the gain or loss of heat, thereby assuring an entrapped air column of substantially uniform temperature. The continuous air passageways are made possible by the miter joints above described and illustrated in the drawings. The continuous air passageways are also provided by arranging all container side-iiap hinges or folds transverse to the longitudinal axes of the discrete passageways formed by the corrugations. The latter disposition enables each passageway to completely travel about two sides and four container flap portions. The optional heat-redecting surfaces above described may also be used in conjunction with the continuous air passageways in the course of providing the utmost in insulating eiiiciency.

It is believed apparent that many modifications may be made in the illustrated embodiments of this invention which will not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention. It is apparent, for instance, that the contiguration of the insulating container is immaterial. The important structural feature comprises the continuous air passageways arranged about complete peripheral portions of the container. The number of thicknesses of the insulating container is not limited to one or two as illustrated but may be indeiinitein number, the only governing principle being that the flap-wall mitered joints allow 6 each of the air passageways defined by the corrugations to be continuous in nature. It is intended, therefore, that the invention be limited by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An insulating container comprising flap and side portions defining an enclosed storage space, wall portions defining opposed surfaces of said flap and side portions, means defining discrete continuous unobstructed passage- Ways between said opposed wall portions of said flap and side portions, each of said passageways being arranged about a complete peripheral portion of said container when in the normal closed condition.

2. The container as recited in claim l in which said flap and side wall portions are paper sheets and said passageway defining means is corrugated cardboard.

3. The container as recited in claim 1 in which said passageway deiining means is arranged in a plurality of superposed layers, each layer having opposed wall portions.

4. The container as recited in claim 3 in which a heat-reflecting surface is secured to the surface of at least one of the two wall surfaces directly opposed and adjacent to the two exposed wall portions of the container.

5. The container as recited in claim 1 in which a heatreecting surface is secured to the inner surface of at least one of said opposed flap and side wall portions.

6. The insulating container as recited in claim 1 in which the continuous, unobstructed passageways of said Iwall portions are vertically disposed in the normal container position of use. Y 7. An insulating container having opposed wall surfaces defining container sides and aps, said flaps being hingedly engaged to said sides, discrete unobstructed passageways `disposed between said wall surfaces, sa-id side and iiap hinge engagements defining miter joints in the normal closed condition, said passageways being arranged transverse to the line of juncture between said flaps and sides whereby said passageways may be continuous and unobstructed through said miter joints when said container is in the normal closed condition, each of said passageways encompassing an entire peripheral portion of said container.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,449,409 Hunt May 27, 1923 1,713,348 OBrien May 14, 1929 1,825,068 Jones et al. Sept. 29, 1931 2,031,254 Derr Feb. 18, 1936 2,278,782 Harvey et al. Apr. 7, 1942 

